Georgia

Man dies at 27 from heat exposure at a Georgia prison, lawsuit says

Published

4 months ago

July 26, 2024

Man dies at 27 from heat exposure at a Georgia prison, lawsuit says

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia sun scorched the slab of concrete beneath Juan Carlos Ramirez Bibiano’s body when nurses found him in a puddle of his own excrement, vomiting, according to a complaint.

Officers left Ramirez in an outdoor cell at Telfair State Prison on July 20, 2023, for five hours without water, shade or ice, even as the outside temperature climbed to 96 degrees by the afternoon, according to a lawsuit brought by his family. That evening, the complaint says, Ramirez died of heart and lung failure caused by heat exposure. He was 27.

Ramirez’s family, including his mother, Norma Bibiano, announced a lawsuit against the Georgia Department of Corrections on Thursday, alleging that officers’ negligent performance of their duties caused his death. The warden directed officers to check on inmates, bring them water and ice and limit their time outside, the complaint says.

The Department of Corrections reported that Ramirez died of natural causes, Jeff Filipovits, one of Norma Bibiano’s attorneys, said at a news conference in Decatur, a suburb of Atlanta.

Georgia’s prisons are under nationwide scrutiny. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation, which is ongoing, into the state’s prisons following concerns about violence, understaffing and sexual abuse.

Outside of Georgia, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has faced complaints of widespread dysfunction. The Associated Press found rampant sexual abuse, criminal misconduct from staff, understaffing, inmate escapes, COVID outbreaks and crumbling infrastructure inside prisons across the country.

The findings led U.S. Sen. John Ossoff of Georgia to introduce bipartisan legislation in 2022 that would overhaul oversight of the agency and improve transparency. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate on July 10.

At an 8 a.m. daily meeting on the day of Ramirez’s death, Telfair State Prison Warden Andrew McFarlane ordered department heads to keep inmates hydrated, bring them ice and avoid leaving them outside for too long in the heat, according to the lawsuit.

A prison staff member brought Ramirez to an outdoor “rec cell” around 10 a.m., after his meeting with a mental health provider, the lawsuit says. The temperature had reached 86 degrees by then.

About 3 p.m., five on-site nurses rushed into the yard in response to an alert from security staff, according to the lawsuit. That is when the nurses found him lying naked on the concrete near his vomit and excrete, the lawsuit says.

Ramirez’s breathing was strained, and his heartbeat was irregular, the lawsuit says. A nurse said that Ramirez was blue and “hot to the touch,” according to the complaint. Nurses pressed cold water bottles onto his groin and under his arms.

Nurses then put an automated external defibrillator on Ramirez’s chest, but it did not deliver a shock. After some time passed, a doctor arrived to help the nurses administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the complaint says. He tried to insert tubes into Ramirez, who still had trouble breathing, seemingly because of his yellow stomach bile, according to the complaint.

Later, his internal body temperature was recorded at 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41.7 Celsius), the complaint says.

Around 3:35 p.m., Emergency Medical Services arrived and took Ramirez to a local hospital. He died at 8:25 p.m. from cardiopulmonary arrest brought by heat exposure, according to the complaint.

“The number of deaths that are occurring in custody is galling, and the absolute lawlessness inside of prisons is a humanitarian crisis,” Filipovits said at the news conference of Georgia’s prisons. “I don’t use those words lightly.”

Homicides inside Georgia’s prisons are rising, and the number is higher than in other states, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. But the Journal-Constitution also reported that starting in March, the Department of Corrections stopped immediately reporting the causes of inmate deaths

The attorneys said they have minimal information about the events leading up to Ramirez’s death. For example, they aren’t sure whether officers brought Ramirez to an outdoor cell for routine or punitive purposes. They say they remain in the dark about which officers were directly in charge of taking care of Ramirez.

“A piece of my heart is gone,” Norma Bibiano said in Spanish at the news conference. Ramirez’s brother sat by her side. Ramirez also left behind a son, and he was a father figure to his partner’s son, the family said.

Bibiano recalled her son as loving, kind and intelligent. She said she always hoped her son would return home, and she misses hearing him say, “I love you, mama” over the phone.

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Charlotte Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on the social platform X: @charlottekramon

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Georgia

What channel is Marquette vs Georgia on Saturday? Time, TV schedule, streaming, odds

Published

4 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

What channel is Marquette vs Georgia on Saturday? Time, TV schedule, streaming, odds

So Marquette men’s basketball fans, your Golden Eagles are ranked No. 15 in the country and coming off of a dominant 76-58 victory over No. 6 Purdue.

You can’t wait to watch the next game, right?

Do you want the bad news or the worse news first?

The bad news is the Marquette-Georgia game on Saturday morning is only available through a sports streaming service.

The worse news is that it’s going to cost most viewers about $20 to watch the game.

Because the Marquette-Georgia game in the Bahamas is not a Big East, SEC, ESPN or Fox sponsored event, the game is only available through the streaming service FLO Sports. It doesn’t offer a free trial and regular subscriptions cost $19.99 a month. There’s a discount for students.

Marquette and Georgia are 5-0 heading into Saturday, but the Golden Eagles have played a tougher schedule.

Here’s how to watch and listen to the game:

What channel is Marquette vs Georgia on today?

Stream: You can stream the game through FLO Sports, which requires a subscription. Subscriptions start at $19.99 a month. A student subscription costs $9.99 a month.
Announcers: Evan Stockton (play-by-play) and Lexi Ayala (analyst) are calling the action.

Marquette vs Georgia time today

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 10 a.m. CT

The Marquette vs. Georgia game starts at 10 a.m. at Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas.

How can I listen to Marquette vs Georgia on the radio?

The game’s on ESPN Milwaukee WKTI FM-94.5 in Milwaukee, plus WCUB 980 AM in Two Rivers, WDLB 1450 AM in Marshfield, WSCO 95.3 FM/1570 AM in Appleton and WSCO 99.1 FM in Oshkosh.
Steve “Homer” True (play-by-play) and Tony Smith (analyst) will call the game.

Is Marquette vs Georgia on SiriusXM Radio?

Yes, the Marquette broadcast is on Channel 390. The Georgia broadcast is available on the Sirius app.

Marquette vs Georgia odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday

ODDS: Marquette -6.5
O/U: 152.5

Marquette Golden Eagles basketball schedule 2024-25

All times Central

Nov. 4: Marquette 102, Stony Brook 62 | Box score | 1-0
Nov. 8: Marquette 82, George Mason 63 | Box score | 2-0
Nov. 11: Marquette 70, Central Michigan 62 | Box score | 3-0
Nov. 15: Marquette 78, Maryland 74 | Box score | 4-0
Nov. 19: Marquette 76, Purdue 58 | Box score | 5-0
Nov. 23: vs. Georgia in Nassau, Bahamas, 10 a.m.
Nov. 27: Stonehill, 8 p.m.
Nov. 30: Western Carolina, 1 p.m.
Dec. 4: at Iowa State, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7: Wisconsin, 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 14: at Dayton, 6 p.m.
Dec. 18: Butler, 8 p.m.
Dec. 21: at Xavier, 11 a.m.
Dec. 31: at Providence, 5 p.m.
Jan. 3: Creighton, 8 p.m.
Jan. 7: Georgetown, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14: at DePaul, 6 p.m.
Jan. 18: Xavier, 1 p.m.
Jan. 21: at Seton Hall, 7 p.m.
Jan. 24: Villanova, 6 p.m.
Jan. 28: at Butler, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 1: UConn, 7 p.m.
Feb. 4: at St. John’s, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 8: at Creighton, 1 p.m.
Feb. 11: DePaul, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 18: Seton Hall, 8 p.m.
Feb. 21: at Villanova, 6 p.m.
Feb. 25: Providence, 6 p.m.
March 1: at Georgetown, 7 p.m.
March 5: at UConn, 7:30 p.m.
March 8: St. John’s, TBA
March 12-15: Big East tournament, New York
Record: 5-0

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Georgia

Wynk THC seltzer coming to stores across Georgia. Here’s what we know

Published

13 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Wynk THC seltzer coming to stores across Georgia. Here’s what we know

This Thanksgiving, want something a little different to wash down your meal? If so, there’s a new beverage you might like to try.

On Wednesday, Wynk announced the statewide debut of its THC-infused seltzers. According to the company’s news release, Wynk delivers a refreshing social experience with a balanced 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD using high-quality manufacturing standards.

The drink comes in a variety of flavors including “Black Cherry Fizz,” “Lime Twist,” “Juicy Mango,” and “Tangerine.” They come in 7.5 oz cans with 2.5mg of THC and CBD and 12 oz cans with 5mg of each. The prices are as follows:

6-Pack: 2.5mg $24.99; 5mg $35.99
12-Pack: 2.5mg $44.99; 5mg $67.99
24-Pack: 2.5mg $89.99; 5mg $129.99

Products like these may be legally sold due to Congress legalizing hemp production in the 2018 Farm Bill, according to a press release on Georgia’s Hemp Farming Act. Hemp is a cannabis plant that naturally contains small amounts of the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9 THC, along with other natural cannabinoids that may be used for medicinal purposes. Under Georgia’s new legislation, products that contain these kinds of ingredients are restricted those 21 and older.

Wynk is being sold in a variety of stores across Georgia like Chevron, Circle K, and BP. To find your nearest store that sells it, go to drinkwynk.com/find-in-stores.

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Georgia

Jimmy Carter Christmas ornament now available at Georgia stores

Published

21 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Jimmy Carter Christmas ornament now available at Georgia stores

ATLANTA – The White House is honoring former President Jimmy Carter this Christmas with his own ornament, and Georgians can get their own for their tree.

The ornament is in the shape of an anchor, a symbol of hope that also represents Carter’s service in the U.S. Navy.

It also features historic moments from Carter’s life and presidency and comes with a keepsake box and illustrated booklet on Carter’s presidency.

“It is a great honor to offer the Official 2024 White House Christmas Ornament at Home Depot stores for the first time in Georgia,” said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association. “This year we pay tribute to President Jimmy Carter’s remarkable life and enduring legacy as he continues to be a fixture in our country’s ongoing history.”

The White House Historical Association, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum/NARA)

Shoppers can find the ornament at around 60 Home Depot stores across Georgia and in the Washington, D.C. area.

You can also buy the ornament on The Home Depot’s website.

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